• Learn from experienced photographers and meet new friends.
• Enjoy Photography outings, guest speakers, & presentations.
• Improve your skills through the club's educational website pages.
• Improve your photography skills with optional photo critiques.
• Monthly print and projection competitions in-person & on Zoom.
• Participate in PSA and NWCCC interclub & individual competitions.
  
• Meetings are open to the public. All ages & skills are welcome.
• TPS Annual Spring Fair Photo Contest is open to PNW photographers.
  
• TPS Annual Division Competition & Award Banquet--members only.

To join TPS or read more about a membership click here

Tacoma Photographic Society
Annual Spring Fair Photo Competition

April 10-13 & 17-20, 2025
23rd Anniversary - Extended Deadline April 3

It's time to register for the TPS Annual Spring Fair Photo Competition for members and non-members.  All Pacific Northwest photographers who derive less than 50% of their income from photos are invited to enter the Annual Spring Fair Photo Competition. We use local professional judges who are not current members of the TPS. All photos are displayed at the Spring Fair held at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA in April.  All subjects are accepted that are appropriate for a family fair (no nudes). All prints must be received by the extended deadline of 4 pm on Thursday, April 3. We have increased the number of photos allowed to 7 photos per person.

This is our annual fundraiser, we need to pay our operating expenses for the year.  Your participation and support are greatly needed and appreciated!!  Drop your prints off at the Fairgrounds for this extended cutoff date.  Do NOT drop them off at any photography store location or at Speedy ePhoto.

Special Members'-Only Offer:

Pay for one or more photo entries and you will receive one (1) free photo entry.  You must be current with your membership dues and be a competing/active member.  Please use the special website page button titled    Members' Only Spring Fair Photo Contest   at the top of this page. Do not use the website button for non-members or you will not receive your free photo entry.  To read more about the rules, how and where to submit your photos, and download the Registration Brochure, go to the Members' Only Spring Fair Photo Contest page of our website or click here.  Please note, there are two separate pages with competition details--one for non-members, and one for members only.  Please select the correct page or members will not receive their discount offer.

Download the entry form, fill it out with Adobe Acrobat Reader, or print it and fill it in by hand. Please fill out titles for all of your photos so we don't accidentally mislabel your photos with someone else's name.  Be sure to return the two panels of the Registration brochure that are labeled along with your PayPal receipt or personal check in the same large envelope with your photos.

Non-Members:

If you are NOT a current member of the club, and you wish to take advantage of this Special Members'-Only Offer, please follow these easy steps:

1. Become a member of the Tacoma Photographic Society (TPS) by paying your $40 annual dues using the TPS PayPal button (not through your own personal PayPal account).
2. Create a login name and password. Your username does not have to be your email address.
3. Wait for your membership to be approved (usually 1-2 days).
4. Log in to the website.
5. You will see a separate competition page for members only and will be able to take advantage of this special offer.
6. Follow the directions on the competition page.

Click here to become a TPS member and start enjoying the many benefits of a TPS membership!

If you do NOT wish to become a member of the TPS please use the  Non-Member Spring Fair Photo Contest  website button at the top of this web page or click here.  Please follow all directions and be sure to return your Registration Brochure, PayPal Receipt, or personal check in the same large envelope with your photos.  Please make sure we receive your photos no later than the extended cutoff date and time of Thursday, April 3 at 4 pm. Drop your prints off at the Fairgrounds for this extended cutoff date.  Do NOT drop them off at any photography store location or at Speedy ePhoto.

We look forward to seeing everyone's amazing photos!  Good luck and thank you for your entries and participation! 

This competition is sponsored by the Tacoma Photographic Society and is an annual fundraising event.

 Calling All Volunteers!

We will be displaying the wonderful TPS Annual Spring Fair Photo Contest entries at the Fairgrounds in Puyallup.  We need your help.  Please sign up to sit in our booth/room to represent TPS which is located in the Southwest corner of the Mattress Firm Showplex building.  No experience is necessary.  You will talk with fairgoers, give them information about our club, and ask them to vote for their favorite photo for the Daily People's Choice Award.  You will receive a free entry ticket to the Spring Fair along with a free parking ticket. You can enjoy the fair before and/or after your shift with your family and friends! If you have a spouse, relative, or friend who can join you, please sign up both of you and the tickets will be sent to you.  This event is not possible without you! Grab your favorite days and time shifts while they last! 
Click on the SignUpGenius logo to sign up today! 
Thank you so much for your help!  If you have any questions, please contact Kristina Allums.  Don't forget to submit YOUR entries to the contest. The deadline has been extended to 4 pm on Thursday, April 3.  To take advantage of this deadline extension, you MUST turn your photos in at the Fairgrounds.  Do NOT drop them off at any other location!  We give out $595 in prizes and lots of ribbons!  To download a map of the fairgrounds and the parking lots, click here.

2025 Competition Dates And Monthly Theme Assignments

Monthly Themes are chosen to encourage people to explore outside of their comfort zone and try photographing something specific that is different from what they normally photograph.  They stimulate your imagination, creativity, and resourcefulness. They encourage you to look around and pay more attention to something you might not consider photographing.  It takes just a little effort to look for these specific subjects which, surprisingly, can be fun and interesting.  Some photography clubs call it a “Club Challenge”.  Are you up to these monthly challenges? Don’t just search through your photo library for something that will make do.  Take advantage of a new learning opportunity and explore, try something new, and have fun!  You might surprise yourself by enjoying a new photography subject or style. Themes are designed to teach you new capturing techniques, new equipment, and different editing skills for a new subject that is completely different than anything else you have done in the past.  Don't miss out on the opportunity to expand your skills!

The more accurately the main subject in your photograph expresses the theme, while achieving high-quality photographic and technical standards, the more likely your photo will receive more votes. The Theme subject must be the main subject of interest.

TPS Field Trips & Other Fun Events
Including Presentations, Workshops, Tutorials, etc.

Additional day trip ideas needing a leader (pick a trip, pick a day, share with all TPS members):  Deception Pass (in March, September), Oregon Falls, Thomasson Farm (in Spring and/or Fall), Seattle Public Library, Gas Works Park in Seattle, Rhododendron Parks (there are several) in Spring and/or Early Fall, Mt. Ranier, Pt. Defiance Japanese Garden and Roses, Connells Dahlias in Tacoma, Tacoma B&W Street Photo walk.

Email messages will be sent to all members with details through the website email system. Dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, event location closures, illnesses, etc. Members are encouraged to bring their family and friends as their guests (unless a participation limit is stated in the event details). Please share your photos on the Galleries Pages for each field trip event/location. You do not have to attend on the date the event is scheduled to post your photos. Click on the  Galleries  link at the top of this page.

All club members and their guests are responsible for paying any parking and entrance fees for themselves. You do not have to stick together as a group unless the event consists of a guided tour provided by the facility's staff. Please read the event details carefully to see if there are any restrictions such as no tripods, monopods, flash attachments, handicapped accessibility limitations, strollers, pets, etc. Please RSVP to the contact member for all field trips.

Wednesday, April 2 Projection Competition
March's Theme Is "A Day In The Life"

Meetings are open to the public on the first Wednesday of the month; however, you must be a club member to compete in monthly and annual print and projection competitions.

We are pleased to offer TWO ways to attend the monthly Projection Competition meetings--either in person or via Zoom! The Zoom link will be emailed to everyone before the meeting date and posted on the Calendar. 

Submit Photos - Thursday, March 20 through Monday, February 24 at 11:30 pm

Judging & Voting - Tuesday, March 25 until Saturday, March 29 at 9 pm

Review Meeting - Thursday, April 2 - The photo review meeting will be held in-person with social time and optional critiques starting at 6:30-9 pm as well as, through Zoom with this link: TBA

Meeting Location - Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street, University Place, WA  98466.  Google map

Directions:  Turn into the small parking lot (by the reader board sign and the big rock).  There are also flagpoles by the main entrance.  Go to the outside door marked "Staff Development Room".

Submission Requirements:          

• Export/Save
  your images in JPEG, sRGB, no larger than 1920 px wide x 1080 px high, and a 1.5 MB file size limit.  Adjust the Quality level to stay within the total file size of approximately 1.5 MB.
  
• Submit your photos on the website at:  Competitions > Submit Images For Print or Projection  OR  click here   
  
• Please capitalize each word in your photo titles & check your spelling.  The public will see your mistakes and we can’t correct them for you. 
  
• DO NOT include your name, the word "copy", version numbers, or file numbers in the photo titles.  The automated features of this new website will automatically insert your name below your photo.  There is a box you can use to list your RAW photo file number (assigned by your camera) or any other number or name to help you remember your photo.
  
• DO NOT include "For Comment" or "Not For Comment" in the title of your photos. The website will keep track of the options you choose.
• The judging and voting process is conducted blindly, so all watermarked images will be disqualified.

Your photos will be automatically placed into your private Image Library for future reference and use, including submitting them to the TPS Annual Division Competition and PSA competitions! You will also be able to read all the helpful, educational critiques from our members.

Winning photos will be placed in the Home Page slideshow.  If you do NOT want your photos included in the slideshow, please contact the Website Administrator through the website email message system.  For more projection information and competition rules, click here.

Some Rules to Keep In Mind:

• DO NOT resubmit photos.  You may submit a photo only once to either a monthly Projection Competition or to a monthly Print Competition--not to both competitions. If you make substantial changes, and you want to re-submit your photo, you must re-submit it to the same competition it was submitted to the first time.  You can't submit a photo to a Projection Competition, make substantial changes, and then submit it to a Print Competition, and vice versa. No crossing over from one competition to the other. This applies to both the Open (subject) competitions and the Theme (specific subject) competitions.  Check your Image Library or Image History so you don't accidentally re-submit photos: Membership > My Account > My Image History or My Image Library.  You will see all of the photos you have submitted to all competitions since September 2022.
  
• The TPS is a club member of PSA; however, we do NOT compete according to PSA rules, such as no signs of "hand of man" in nature/wildlife photos.  You are allowed/expected to remove distracting objects from most photos, including nature/wildlife photos. It's your choice to delete distracting objects in photojournalism or documentary photos or not (sports, community and political events, rodeos, animal competitions, etc.). Judges should NOT penalize a photographer if they choose not to remove any distracting objects in a photojournalism or documentary photo, in order to protect the "truth of the story".  Please read the website page article titled "Journalism And Documentary Photo Guidelines" at  d/72706b87-0285-40a7-b0d4-4719a04d8451
  

If you are not a member of the TPS and would like to start competing in Print and Projection Competitions, join the TPS by clicking here.  We hope to see your photos in our competitions and meet you at our two Projection and Print meetings.

Thursday, April 17 Print Competition
April's Theme Is "A Day In The Life"

Meetings are open to the public on the third Thursday of the month; however, you must be a club member to compete in monthly and annual print and projection competitions.

Submit Photos - Friday, April 4 at 12 am until Tuesday, April 15 at 11:30 pm - You must submit your photos online before the meeting.  Please note that we do not accept walk-in print registrations on the night of the meeting.  Therefore, please make sure you have pre-registered your prints on the website with a digital JPEG in sRGB photo of your print, before the cut-off date/time.  Please do not exceed 1920 wide x 1080 high and 1.5 MB for your digital file size.  This change will allow the meeting to proceed on time, make the scorekeeping a smooth process, and create less work for all of our volunteers.  As a bonus, your photos will be stored in your private Image Library for future reference and use, including submitting them to the TPS Annual Division Competition and PSA competitions.  Yes, our website is connected to the PSA organization!

Judge & Vote - Judging and voting are done in person at the review meeting.

Review Meeting - Thursday, March 20 - The meeting is at 6:30 pm to 9 pm with judging, voting, photo review, and optional critiques.  These meetings are in-person only (no Zoom meetings).

Location - Waller Road Grange, 2708 64th Street East, Tacoma Google map

Submission Requirements:

• Commercially
  made color prints shall be accepted in the Print Division competition.
• As stated in the Bylaws, Print Division entries shall be a minimum of 35 square inches (e.g., 5″ x 7″) not including mounting. Maximum combined print and mount size shall be no larger than 320 square inches (e.g., 16″ x 20″).
• Submit your photos on the website: Competitions > Submit Images For Print or Projection  OR  click here.
• Please capitalize each word in your photo titles and use proper word spacing. Please check your spelling! Everyone will see your mistakes which we can't correct for you.
  
• DO NOT include your name, the word "copy", version numbers, or file numbers in the photo titles.  The automated features of the website will automatically insert your name below your photo.  There is a box you can use to list your RAW photo file number (assigned by your camera) or any other number or name to help you remember your photo.
• DO NOT include "For Comment" or "Not For Comment" in the title of your photos. The website will keep track of the options you choose.
• The judging and voting process is conducted blindly, so all watermarked images will be disqualified.

Award-winning photos will be placed in the Home Page slideshow.  If you do NOT want your photos included in the slideshow, please contact the Website Administrator through the website email message system.  For more print information and competition rules, click here.

Some Rules to Keep In Mind:

If you are not a member of the TPS and would like to start competing in Print and Projection Competitions, join the TPS by clicking here.  We hope to see your photos in our competitions and meet you at our monthly Projection and Print meetings.

The TPS extends our sincere thanks to these local companies for helping make our TPS Annual Spring Fair Photo Competition a great success for us, and especially for all of the PNW photographer entrants! All photo entries are displayed at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup each April.

Copyright © 2024 Tacoma Photographic Society - Pierce County, Washington

All photos on this website are the artistic and intellectual property of club members and are copy-protected. By law, they can't be copied, saved, reproduced, distributed, or shared in any form or for any reason without written permission from the photographer who created the photo(s).  Photography is protected under the same copyright laws as fine art, books, poetry, and music.